Archive for the ‘Health’ Category
Early Critical Illness Insurance, is it worth it?
On 27th August, I published a post on At Which Stage of Cancer Does Critical Insurance Pay? On 31st August, a story was published in The New Paper about a lady who got cancer and removed her breast but was denied claims on critical illness for the insurance policies she has. Article
In the New Paper article, Ms Tan had a condition of carcinoma in situ, where the cancer starts in the milk ducts of the breast. It was considered a non-invasive stage as the cancer had not spread into the surrounding breast tissue. In Ms Tan’s case, she had a mastectomy because the cancer cells were located in various parts of her breast. In other words, she had a few of the cases of carcinoma in situ. The insurance company denied her claim based on the the condition not fulfilling the definition in the policy.
During my earlier post, I mentioned that i was discussing this with a radiologist husband and staff nurse wife. They do admit that at this stage of cancer, the condition is not life threatening and with treatment, the patient is likely to continue normal life and working after 1-3 months.
‘Dr Wong Seng Weng, 40, consultant oncologist at The Cancer Centre, drew a distinction between cancers where the person’s longevity is compromised versus conditions which are treatable. He said: “DCIS, if diagnosed and treated early, usually the survival rate is 100 per cent. Usually life insurers pay out when a person’s longevity is compromised.” But this doesn’t mean that the cancer has to be very advanced, before a claim can be made, he clarified. Even if the cancer is at stage 1, the insurer can pay out if it is an invasive form that spreads, he said.’
At which stage of Cancer does Critical Insurance pay?
Recently I have met a client, a female who is concerned about payout in event of being diagnosed with cancer, which is the benefit under critical illness portion of her insurance policy. Being a head nurse and her husband, a doctor, radiologist to be exact, they are quite familiar with the medical terms in the small print. After consultation with them, I decided on a post.
